Commissioners and staff discussed improvements to meeting technology and packet delivery to support clearer, faster hearings. Topics included in-meeting screen-sharing to annotate site plans (Google Maps, plan diagrams), downloadable high‑resolution attachments, and public-facing access to GIS layers.

Several commissioners said being able to circle items on a plan or zoom into a map during discussion would improve clarity and shorten meetings. Staff confirmed that shared-screen drawing features exist and can be used from staff’s presentation, and offered to run a short practice session so commissioners can learn the tools before applying them in a public meeting.

Commissioners also raised problems with low-resolution images in the digital packet and large email attachments that sometimes bounce or are filtered. Staff and multiple commissioners agreed to move toward sending commissioners an email with a download link to the full packet rather than attaching a very large PDF—allowing the printed packet to retain high-resolution images without large attachments filling inboxes.

On data tools, commissioners noted existing internal GIS capabilities and asked staff to investigate whether more public-facing GIS queries or dashboards could be made available for planners and the public. Staff said some GIS products are possible but cautioned that not all internal datasets are publicly releasable and that staff time and resources would determine rollout.

Ending: Staff agreed to (1) schedule a short technology training/demo for commissioners, (2) use linked downloads rather than oversized attachments when feasible, and (3) pursue options for better map resolution in published packets and improved GIS access as resources permit.